European Union: Approved merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, subject to conditions

On 15 May 2023, the European Commission approved the acquisition by Microsoft of Activision Blizzard, a video game platform company. The approval is subject to commitments offered by Microsoft. In its in-depth market investigation, the Commission concluded that Microsoft would not pose a threat to competitor consoles and multi-game subscription services. However, concerns were raised regarding the potential negative impact on competition in the market for cloud game streaming services, as well as the strengthening of Microsoft's position in the PC operating systems market. To address the competition concerns identified by the Commission, Microsoft offered a set of comprehensive licensing commitments valid for a period of 10 years. These commitments include a free license granted to consumers and cloud game streaming service providers within the European Economic Area.